Show choir equals high energy

Central hosting 'high energy' show choir invitational today

Central hosting 'high energy' show choir invitational today

March 10, 2007|By Gretchen Mayer

They make it look easy Sanessa Lindemann, Kyle Stugelmayer, Jamal Elkhader, Michaela Godel and the rest of the members of Aberdeen Central's Special Request show choir have been practicing since early September. "About 100 hours," Lindemann said. Two Aberdeen Central show choirs - Special Request and Eagle Express - will each provide exhibition performances today in the Thomas F. Kelly Theatre. Seven teams from six high schools are competing in this year's Center Stage Show Choir Invitational: De Smet, Groton, Lake Preston, Leola, Madison and two teams from Sioux Falls. As the host school, the Aberdeen teams will not compete. Judging is tough. "They judge you on everything," said Katherine Black of Eagle Express, who has been in show choir for eight years. "They judge you on your smile, your expression, your stage presence, even how much space there is between performers. If one person is off just a half-step, that's a big thing." Watching the members of Special Request sing and dance their way through "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Black points out an untucked bra strap. "That would count against them," she said. It's no easy feat to come out onstage with buttons aligned and straps straight. There's only 20 seconds between each song to change costumes. "As soon as you're out of the line of sight of the audience, you're ripping off clothes as you're running off the stage," said 17-year-old Cassie Weller. "Velcro is a great thing," said Black. "The judges look at every detail - diction, harmony, even the way you hold your fingers," said Black. "The directors told us if we don't feel cheesy, we're not doing it right," said Stugelmayer. "You're judged from the minute you hit the stage," said Godel, a junior. Special Request will perform five songs: "Car Wash," "Sir Duke," "After The Love Has Gone," "I Will Survive," and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Eagle Express will perform "One Short Day;" the theme song from the musical "Hair;" "Trashin' the Camp;" a ballad, "Love Heals," and will close with "Buenos Aires," from the musical "Evita." Dancing and singing in show choir isn't easy. These kids just make it look easy. "It's really high energy," said Elkhader. "It's good exercise. By the time you get to the end of the show, you're dripping with sweat." "You can have sweat running off the end of your nose, but you just have to let it go - you can't wipe it off or the judges will count that against you," said Black. So, why do it? "It's the bestest thing ever," joked Lindemann. This is the fifth year for the 16-year-old sophomore. "The directors are all super cool." "I like the singing, dancing and choreography," said Elkhader, 15, who is also a sophomore. He's been involved in show choir for four years and performs a solo. "I didn't sing much before show choir," he said. Stugelmayer is also 15 years old and this is his fifth year. "Show choir got me singing, too," he said. "I got in it because my older sister was in it," said Weller, a junior. But she stayed in it for five years because she enjoys it. "Being in show choir has improved my self-esteem so much," said Black, a 17-year-old junior. The rest of the students nodded their agreement. "Show choir equals energy plus self-esteem," she said. Obituaries 2 Local 2-3 TV/Entertainment 4 Church Briefs 4-5 Saturday, March 10, 2007 Questions or Comments? Call (605) 225-4100 or 1-800-925-4100.